Chapter summaries Cursed Daughters Oyinkan Braithwaite

Chapter 70 Summary: The Humming and the Revelation

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Hearing humming from Monife’s old room in the west wing, Ebun goes to investigate. The tune is Lagbaja’s “Coolu Temper.” She finds the door ajar and sees a figure dancing. Initially mistaking it for Mo’s ghost, Ebun enters and discovers it is her daughter Eniiyi, wearing Mo’s sundress. Eniiyi explains that Grandma West told her she is an atunwa—a reincarnation of Mo. Enraged, Ebun slaps her repeatedly, unable to control her violence. Kemi, Ebun’s mother, intervenes and stops the beating. Ebun, guilty and unable to apologize, leaves her mother to comfort the crying Eniiyi.

Key Events

  • Ebun hears humming from Mo’s old room.
  • She investigates and finds the door ajar.
  • She sees a figure dancing and fears it is Mo’s ghost.
  • She discovers it is Eniiyi wearing Mo’s clothes.
  • Eniiyi reveals the atunwa belief shared by Grandma West.
  • Ebun slaps Eniiyi multiple times in a rage.
  • Kemi arrives and stops the beating.
  • Ebun leaves without apologizing, overwhelmed by guilt.

Character Development

  • Ebun: Her inability to control her temper echoes past violence she endured. She rationalizes the beating as necessary to protect Eniiyi from the atunwa idea, but her loss of control shows deep unresolved trauma surrounding Mo’s death. She recognizes herself as a stranger in the moment.
  • Eniiyi: She defies her mother’s orders, seeking connection to her own identity. Her insistence on Grandma West’s claim reveals a young person trying to understand her place in the family. She stands up to Ebun briefly, mirroring Mo’s defiance.
  • Kemi: As the one who stops the violence, she provides a counterpoint to Ebun’s action. Her nails digging into Ebun’s wrist and her command “Ó ti tó” (It is enough) show her as the enforcer of limits.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Atunwa (Reincarnation): The concept surfaces as a central motif. Eniiyi is told she is Mo reborn, which Ebun violently rejects. This symbolizes the family’s struggle to move beyond the past and the weight of ancestral identity.
  • Violence as Control: Ebun’s beating is a desperate attempt to control her daughter’s beliefs and, by extension, the narrative of Mo’s legacy. The chapter connects generational violence to fear of repeating trauma.
  • The Room as a Tomb: Mo’s preserved room becomes a haunted space—not by a ghost but by memory and forbidden curiosity. Eniiyi’s entry represents a transgression that forces the past into the present.
  • The Tune “Coolu Temper”: The humming of a specific song suggests that the past is not silent; it seeps into everyday life. The title’s irony—cool temper versus Ebun’s hot rage—underscores the theme of emotional eruption.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 70 is a turning point in the mother–daughter relationship. It exposes the fault line between Ebun’s need to protect and her inability to heal. The atunwa idea challenges the family’s silence around Mo’s death. Ebun’s violent reaction, justified by self-deception, shows how trauma replicates itself. Kemi’s intervention hints at a different way to break the cycle. This chapter also deepens the mystery around Mo’s fate and the family’s secret history.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Ebun react so violently to Eniiyi’s claim of being Mo’s reincarnation?
    Ebun’s reaction stems from unresolved grief and fear. She cannot accept Eniiyi as a continuation of Mo because that would mean Mo’s presence still haunts her. She also believes that allowing the atunwa belief will trap Eniiyi in a false identity and perpetuate the family’s tragic patterns. Her violence is a desperate attempt to control what she cannot face.

  2. What does Eniiyi’s defiance in this chapter reveal about her character?
    Eniiyi shows growing independence and a need for self-knowledge. By entering Mo’s room and wearing her clothes, she actively seeks connection to her own history. Confronting her mother and challenging her lies reveals a courage that mirrors Mo’s personality, which Ebun finds threatening.

  3. How does Kemi’s role as the one who stops the violence function in the chapter?
    Kemi serves as a moral brake and a reminder of the family’s own violent history. Her command “Ó ti tó” (It is enough) echoes previous instances where she or her sister used force. By physically intervening, she enforces a boundary that Ebun cannot set for herself. Kemi’s presence suggests that breaking the cycle requires an external check—and that the older generation still holds authority.

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